Can Germany avoid another early World Cup exit in Group E against Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador?

Germany’s Nick Woltemade, left, celebrates after scoring the opening LIVE of his team during the World Cup 2026 group A qualifying soccer match between Northern Ireland and Germany at Windsor Park stadium, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)

Four-time World Cup champion Germany and newcomer Curacao sit at opposite ends of the global soccer spectrum.

In June they will be facing each other in Group E, which also includes Ivory Coast and Ecuador.

Germany will be under pressure not to fall at the first hurdle again after failing to advance from the group stage in back-to-back tournaments since winning the World Cup in 2014.

Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz is at the heart of everything Germany does under coach Julian Nagelsmann . At 6-foot-6 (1.98 meters) striker Nick Woltemade is hard for defenses to handle. Meanwhile, 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl could be the tournament’s breakout star.

Germany’s coach Julian Nagelsmann talks to reserve players during a group A World Cup qualifiying soccer match between Germany and Slovakia in Leipzig, Germany, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

Germany’s coach Julian Nagelsmann talks to reserve players during a group A World Cup qualifiying soccer match between Germany and Slovakia in Leipzig, Germany, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

Still, conceding three goals in a 4-3 friendly win over Switzerland in March revived concerns over Germany’s defensive robustness and doubts over Nagelsmann’s insistence on using Real Madrid center back Antonio Rüdiger as a bench player. Germany hasn’t faced top-level opponents since losses to France and Portugal last year. There isn’t a reliable goalkeeping successor to Manuel Neuer, either.